UK/EU fees

International fees

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Chemistry is often referred to as the 'central science'. It covers topics as diverse as quantum mechanics and the study of atomic particles, to the molecular nature of biological systems and the Human Genome Project.

Learning about the fundamental basis of chemistry - the analysis of molecules, their structures and shapes and how they react - is vital for our modern society. Chemists can really make a difference in the world.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry, assuring the quality of our teaching. This course meets the academic criteria for Chartered Chemist (CChem) status.

In Year 3, you'll have a wider choice of option modules, and learn advanced practical techniques in preparation for an extended research project in industry in Year 4.

We aim to break down the artificial barriers between different branches of chemistry, helping you to understand chemistry as a unified discipline with common underlying principles.

Our chemistry courses are designed to be flexible, so you can transfer between MChem and BSc courses at any time during the first two years. The title of your final degree will depend on the modules you take from Year 2 onwards.

Year 1

You will take a set of core modules, each of which integrates the major areas of Chemistry: organic, inorganic, physical, theoretical, analytical and biological.

The Autumn term introduces themes of structure and bonding, and chemical change and reactivity, with practical courses complementing the lectures.

The Spring and Summer terms are divided into two interdisciplinary modules that introduce key chemical principles in the areas of spectroscopic analysis, bonding and chemical change, and chemical reactivity and mechanisms.

You will carry out experiments in analytical and physical chemistry, and a two-week integrated chemistry project as an introduction to research.

Academic integrity module

This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.

This module will:

define academic integrity and academic misconduct

explain why and when you should reference source material and other people's work

provide interactive exercises to help you to assess whether you've understood the concepts

provide answers to FAQs and links to useful resources.

Year 2

A significant proportion of your second year is made up of core Chemistry modules and practical work which is common to all our Chemistry courses. The year covers more advanced concepts in chemistry through a blend of lectures, tutorials and workshops. You'll also choose one option module, allowing you to focus on a specific area in detail.

Year 4

You'll spend your final year working on a research project with an industrial partner. Most placements are 12 months long and begin in the summer vacation between Year 3 and Year 4. You will have a personal supervisor at your host company, and regular contact with a supervisor at York.

There is also an element of 'distance learning' for the year, so you won't lose contact with the academic side of your course.

Core modules

You will carry out a research project in an area of your choice. You'll learn principles and techniques of advanced chemistry which you'll be able to draw on in your future career. Recent projects have investigated:

Advanced Chemistry is an open learning module exploring topics at the frontiers of science. The course material is based on cutting edge research carried out at York, and taught in collaboration with experts who are closely involved. (20 credits)

Please note, modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.

Learning by design

Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

demonstrate learning and problem solving skills through the acquisition and application of a broad range of fundamental and advanced chemical principles and knowledge.

apply fundamental and advanced chemical principles and knowledge to the in-depth study of chemical science specialisms and the solution of problems at the forefront of the subject.

design and safely conduct chemical experiments through an effective risk assessment. Accurately document and record experiments to enable the effective synthesis of complex chemical compounds and advanced analysis of physical measurements, of both a quantitative and qualitative nature.

effectively articulate scientific principles, experimental results and research findings in a way that is accessible to a variety of audiences through written, oral and other formats.

independently plan, design and conduct an extended, open-ended investigative research project to extend knowledge and understanding at the forefront of the chemical sciences.

demonstrate employability skills such as teamworking, commercial awareness, self-management and creativity and be equipped to work in a professional manner in their future careers consistent with the expectations of a research chemist in academic, governmental or commercial positions.

Whilst studying there are plenty of chances to explore different areas of chemistry through the option modules available to you in your second and third years.

Craig, 3rd Year student, MChem Chemistry with a Year in York

Fees and funding

The fees and funding figures below are for 2019 entry. If you take a year abroad or year in industry you'll pay a reduced rate of fees for that year.

Annual tuition fees

UK/EU

International

£9,250

£21,330

UK/EU or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK, EU or international student.

Fees for subsequent years

UK/EU: further increases within the government fee cap will apply in subsequent academic years. We will notify you of any increase as soon as we can.

International: fees for international students are subject to annual increases. Increases are currently capped at 2% per annum.

More information

For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.

Funding

We offer a number of scholarships to help cover tuition fees and living costs.

Teaching and assessment

You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Teaching format

Lectures

range from the traditional 'chalk and talk' to the use of digital presentations. Where possible we include demonstrations and encourage audience participation through chemical quizzes and voting.

The size of lectures varies from 200 students to as few as 5 for some option modules. All teaching is done by our academic staff - many of whom are at the forefront of their fields and will discuss the latest developments in their area.

Tutorials

are our smallest group teaching sessions and are usually one hour in length. Up to five students join a college tutor who is a specialist in the subject. Tutorials develop a wide range of skills including:

problem-solving

essay writing

presentation skills

Tutorials help to reinforce topics covered in lectures, and offer an opportunity to discuss aspects of the subject which interest you and ask about any problems encountered in your reading.

Workshops

Up to 25 chemists in the same teaching college are divided into small groups to work through problem sheets, usually over one or two hours.

Laboratory work

complements your theoretical studies and constitutes most of the continuously-assessed parts of your degree.

A wide variety of experiments are carried out, from the synthesis of target compounds to a crime-scene investigation using forensic methodology. You will gain experience in handling and interpreting experimental data, and discover how principles taught in lectures can be put to use.

As the course progresses, you have an increasing range of choice in the experiments you do. In the summer term of the first year you will do the 'Chemistry of a Night Out' practical where you will plan and carry out experiments as part of a team.

Overall workload

As a guide, students on this course typically spend their time as follows:

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Lectures and seminars

456 hours

468 hours

396 hours

0 hours

Placement

0 hours

0 hours

0 hours

1104 hours

The figures above are based on data from 2016/17.

The rest of your time on the course will be spent on independent study. This may include preparation for lectures and seminars, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.

Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours will vary from person to person. In UK higher education the expectation is that full-time students will spend 1,200 hours a year learning.

Teaching location

You will be based in the Department of Chemistry on Campus West. Your teaching will mostly take place in the Department, with some classroom sessions elsewhere on Campus West.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.

Assessment and feedback

You'll be assessed in a number of different ways, depending on the modules you study. Forms of assessment include:

examinations

practical work

assessed workshops

presentations

We pride ourselves on delivering useful written and verbal feedback to all of our students. Whenever you complete an assessment, you will receive feedback on its good and bad points, and guidance on how you can improve further.

You'll also receive feedback on assignments which don't count towards your final grade, helping you to understand your strengths and identify areas for improvement.

Percentage of the course typically assessed by coursework and exams

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Written exams

70%

70%

67%

8%

Coursework

13%

15%

16%

47%

Practical exams

17%

15%

17%

45%

The figures above are based on data from 2016/17.

97% overall student satisfaction

National Student Survey 2018

Ranked 3rd in the UK for Chemistry

Guardian University Guide 2019 and Times Good University Guide 2019

Emphasis on small-group teaching

Careers and skills

Although the majority of our graduates progress to become scientists, the analytical and transferable skills which constitute part of our degrees are recognised as suitable training for a wide range of careers.

About 40 graduates per year stay in the Department or join other universities to work for higher degrees. Most are involved in collaborative research projects, many with chemical companies.

Career opportunities

Innovative medicines graduate

Fuels technology chemist

Production chemist engineer

Products research scientist

Business services graduate

Auditor

Transferable skills

Team working

Self management

Application of IT and numeracy

Problem solving

Communication and literacy

Business and customer awareness

York is a fantastic place to study chemistry and we consistently place highly in league tables.

Josie, 2nd Year student, MChem Chemistry with a Year Abroad

Entry requirements

Qualification

Typical offer

A levels

Offers are typically based on three subjects at A level, one of which must be Chemistry.

AAB, including A in Chemistry, plus two other sciences/mathematics

AAA, including A in Chemistry, plus one other science/mathematics

AAA*, including A in Chemistry, plus an A or B grade in a science/mathematics at AS level

We accept the following A levels as science/mathematics:

Biology

Electronics

Further mathematics

Geology

Mathematics

Physics

We do not accept General Studies.

We may also make offers based on UCAS Tariff points, for example, if you are taking two subjects at A level (one of which would have to be Chemistry) and two AS level subjects.

Access to Higher Education Diploma

Access courses are offered by local further education (FE) colleges, and most can be completed in one year, or over two years on a part-time or evening-only basis. You will need to make sure that the particular Access course you are considering is appropriate, and syllabuses must contain a significant portion of chemistry and mathematics. The Access tutors at your College would be able to confirm that this is the case. Applications will be considered on an individual basis.

BTEC

BTEC National Extended Diploma with DDD, and an additional A level or equivalent qualification in Chemistry.

Cambridge Pre-U

Pass the diploma in principal subjects with:

D3/D3/M2 including Chemistry, plus two other sciences/mathematics

D3/D3/D3 including Chemistry, plus one other science/mathematics

European Baccalaureate

80% overall, including a minimum grade of 85% in Chemistry

International Baccalaureate

35 points, including grade 6 in Higher level Chemistry and another science/mathematics at Higher level

36 points, including grade 6 in Higher level Chemistry and grade 6 in at least one Standard level science/mathematics

Irish leaving Certificate

H2,H2,H2,H2,H2,H3​ - H2,H2,H2,H2,H3,H3​ including Chemistry and a second science/mathematics

Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers

AA/AB at Advanced Higher level, including A in Chemistry and another science/mathematicsandAAAAA/AAAAB at Higher level in a suitable range of subjects